Extensible car-step



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JAMES F. WOOD 81; JOHN P. WOOD. EXTENSIBLE OAR STEP. No. 431,307.Patented July l, 1890.

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JAMES F. IVOOD AND JOHN F. IVOOD, OF WILMINGTON, DELAVARE.

EXTE'NSIBLE CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,307, dated July 1,1890.

Application led May 10, 1890. Serial No. 351,250. (No model.)

To aZZiwr/om, t 11m/y concern:

Be it known that we, J AMES F. VOOD and JOHN FIVOOD, both of Vilmington,in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a newand Improved Extensible Oar-Step, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a partthereof, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of acar-step with our improvement applied, and Fig. 2 is a transversesection taken on line fr: in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

The invention relates to the car-step for which United States LettersPatent No. 417,896 were granted i us on the 24th ot December, 1889.

The object of the invention is to obviate the necessity ot' theguiderods 13 shown in said patent.

The invention will be first described, and then specifically pointed outin the claim.

To the carA are attached the steps B in the usual way, and to the risersO of the steps are attached plates C', to which is secured anair-cylinder D,containing a piston E, having a piston-rod F, ofpolygonal form, preferably of square section, as shown. The piston-rod Fextends through a hole of corresponding form in the lower cylinder-headG, and the lower extremity of the piston-rod is bent out ward into ahorizontal position. To the horizontal extremity of the piston-rod F isattached the lower step I-I. By thus forming the piston-rod angular incross-section it will be impossible for it to turn axially, and thus thestep 14 will not tilt laterally in either direction when persons standthereon. By this means we are enabled to dispense with the rods 13 andguides 12 in the patent before referred to. Between the piston E and the'cylinder-head G is placed a spirallspring I, which is capable oflifting the piston, pistonrod, and the step II and `holding them in anelevated position.

The cylinder-head G slips on the end ofthe cylinder, and is secured tothe plate O by means of bolts. This construction holds the headsecurely, so as to prevent it from turning, and at the same time permitsof readily removing the head and the parts contained by the cylinder.

The upper end of the cylinder D is closed by the head J, and in the saidhead is inserted a pipe K, which communicates with the pipe L, leading'to the air-brake pipe. In the pipe K is arranged a valve -M, furnishedwith an arm N, which is connected by a rod O with suitable levers forworking the valve or valves carried by the car. When a station isreached, the valve M is opened, allowing air under pressure to enter thecylinder D and push down the cylinder E against the pressure of thespring I, thus forcing the step I-I downward into the positionindicated. by dotted lines. The step remains in this position until theair is allowed to escape from the upper end of the cylinder lthrough avalve provided for that purpose, or through the valve M when it isconstructed as a threeway valve.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentn The herein described carstep, provided with apiston-rod angular in cross-section and providedwith a piston, and acylinderin which the piston Works, provided with a head having anopening corresponding to the shape of the piston-rod, whereby said stepwill be prevented from tilting, substantially as set

